Wansworth
Well-known member
Possible boat purchase has 6hp 4 stroke clamped on the back do I need to flush it through after use of can it go all season without attention
Outboard looking after
- Thread starter Wansworth
- Start date
CliveF
Active member
If the boat is permanently on the water then most people leave it alone. Although it helps if it is used regularly.
If on a trailer then its up to you. Personally I always have given it a 10 min flush thorough whilst running the carb dry.
These days I would always run it dry, ashore or afloat, due to the ethanol fuel. Even if the fuel has been dosed with stabilizer.
It saves an awful lot of hassle.
If on a trailer then its up to you. Personally I always have given it a 10 min flush thorough whilst running the carb dry.
These days I would always run it dry, ashore or afloat, due to the ethanol fuel. Even if the fuel has been dosed with stabilizer.
It saves an awful lot of hassle.
jac
Well-known member
Would also go for an E5 fuel at most - generally means a higher octane fuel
Graham376
Well-known member
Our tender is in daily use for roughly half the year and only gets flushed when we're leaving the boat for extended periods. Lots of small fishing boats with outboards in local marina, as well as leisure boats and I've never noticed anyone flushing engines.
LittleSister
Well-known member
CliveF means runs dry of FUEL, not cooling water - i.e. at end of the day or whatever's use, stopping the engine by switching the fuel supply and leaking the engine running until it has drained the carburettor float chamber, rather than switch off the ignition. I am sure Wansworth understands, but I've just clarified that in case others reading this may not.
In answer to Wansworth's question, I have used 4hp and 8hp outboards on small yachts without flushing and can't remember problems, but have had problems with the cooling channels on small e.g. 2hp engines used on a tender becoming salted up. I bought a gadget to flush it with fresh water after use but it didn't fit the water inlets on my outboard and never really loved that one.
Do make sure that the yacht outboard is lifted clear of the water when not in use to avoid fouling and corrosion. One boat I had I didn't originally do this, as getting the big outboard out of the small well was difficult and tedious, but soon learnt the error of my ways.
LittleSister
Well-known member
Wansworth
Well-known member
I have my reasonsWho needs an outboard when you could have a nice yellow inboard diesel?
coveman
Active member
My outboard lives in a well on the boat which makes it difficult to flush each time, but if you are able to its probably worth it. Certainly a good idea to run it until the carb is empty if not being used for a few days, and also give it a good flush with fresh water at the end of the season. There are various additives you can purchase which are supposed to help remove salt when flushing - not sure whether they make any difference or not!
Wansworth
Well-known member
Not heard back from the Jouet 24 seller.Thinking looking after an inboard engine is much more complex and physically demandingI have my reasons
Last edited:
Chiara’s slave
Well-known member
We’re outboard powered, 12 months in commission. We just start up regularly, additive in the fuel. It’s a 4 stroke, we seem to have no hassle.
LittleSister
Well-known member
No, looking after a inboard diesel in good condition is a very easy and undemanding routine, and in particular not as physically demanding as lugging an outboard about.
They also have substantial advantages over petrol outboards in terms of reliability, durability, fuel consumption, fuel safety, propulsion effectiveness, weight distribution, electricity generation capacity and vulnerability to theft.
Their principal disadvantage is that in the event of a serious problem beyond your own capacity to deal with, it will cost more because you'll have to pay someone to come to your boat to fix it, rather than lift the outboard off the boat and take the engine to them
Small (and large) diesels are in used in incredible numbers all over the world precisely because of their reliability, robustness, longevity and ease of maintenance.
An unreliable inboard diesel on its last legs is a pain in the backside and the wallet, and should be avoided or replaced (=££££s), but most aren't like that. (You generally only hear of the problems on forums like this - there are huge numbers of inboards giving reliable, trouble-free service without comment.) But an 'undesirable' diesel is almost always due to lack of maintenance, damage (usually the result of the former), or inability to obtain spares (in part a problem because the engines themselves long outlive their commercial production currency).
Any two boats will have other advantages and disadvantages to consider which could and should swing it, but assuming a 20+ foot cruising boat and all other things being equal, the choice between a new inboard diesel and an outboard is, to my mind*, a no-brainer.
(*Based on my having owned similar sized boats with (a) petrol outboard, (b) newish modern diesel inboard & (c) 44 year old diesel inboard; and having sailed a wide variety of others boats of various sizes and engine types/ages/conditions.)
Wansworth
Well-known member
Thanks
Bouba
Well-known member
Are you really buying a boat ?I have my reasons
Wansworth
Well-known member
Well going to see the Supermistral Monday I must admit in a bit of quandary my last boat had a diesel inboard and it was a real job getting at stuff like the fuel tank and filters and general grubbiins which I know will be a challenge
Wansworth
Well-known member
Bouba
Well-known member
Looking at boats is like looking at puppies....it’s hard not taking one home with youWell …..going to see one
Wansworth
Well-known member
Taking my wife,she always spots something to put the dampers on
…..she of the arrow side decks
Last edited:
Bouba
Well-known member
Tell her...boat or puppy...her choiceTaking my wife,she always spots something to put the dampers on
Rum Run
Well-known member
My boat has a 5hp 2 stroke that works in a well but lives in a locker. The engine was not flushed at the end of the last season and overheated on first use this season. When I opened it up the pump galleries were pretty full of salt / oxide / stuff and had to be poked through to clear. New impeller, wear parts and gaskets and now all fine.
I think flushing occasionally is good !
I think flushing occasionally is good !
Wansworth
Well-known member
Already penned in a rescue dog so that won’t workTell her...boat or puppy...her choice
Other threads that may be of interest
